The Language Of Growth

One of those surnames that is unfortunate to have if you’re a teacher (there was also a relief teacher called Mrs Dick)

He was a teacher who jumped in a time machine in Victorian England and arrived in 1995.

Stern, humourless and rigid.

His teaching followed the text book. You learned the works then the grammar then occasionally you practised using them. It was slow and frustrating.

I wasn’t very good at French.

Every year Mr Hoare took a group on a school trip to France. They rode around on bicycles, ate garlic and had small cups of coffee in cafes while reading dense novels. (I don’t know if any of those things happened but thats what people do in France don’t they?)

Mr Hoare, who spoke of course spoke fluent French, had a hard time being understood by the French. His textbook language and the real world language didn’t match up.

He had the words but not their meaning.

The language we use to speak about ourselves, our lives and our business is deeply important.

Yesterday I spoke to an ecommerce store who spends $4000 per month on Adwords.

“Adwords cost me four grand last month” was the statement.

Describing it as a cost fixes his mindset as a pain. An area that is resented and must be managed.

Reframing it to an investment changes it to an opportunity. An area of the business that can show unlimited upside when the right strategy is established.

A cost in business should be reduced.

An investment in business should be maximised.

Using the language of growth unshackles you from the painful parts of a business.

It turns a weakness into an opportunity and gives you a new lens to look through.